Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 10.djvu/452

* HYGIENE. 390 is dcsirnble in cold weather. Infants require principally milk, with the ]iroiiortiim3 of pro- teid*. fats, and .siijrar graded according to age and digestive caixicity. Older children require small quantities of meats, cereals, fruits, and vegetables. In regard to occupation, it may be siaid in general that active lalioring men, like carpenters, wheehvriglits, and farmers, may par- take of food which takes a consider.ible time to digest, with more advantage than sedentary men may. Pork and corn-cake or bread is a nutritious
 * ind sustaining diet to an active laborer, but

should not form the habitual diet of a sedentary person. (See Dii;t, jjaragraph Dirt in Disease; see also KoOD. ) The investigation of water-sup- I)ly. examination for noxious ingredients or me- dicinal projx-rties in drinking-water, as well as directions for its use, come within the province of hygiene, as docs also the use of colfee and tea, which are both stimulating drugs, causing in some persons overaction of the heart, cerebral ac- tivity resulting in insiuunia. and indigestion; of cocoa, which is slightly stimulating, but contains food; of wine, bcor, and distilled liquors, all of which are drugs in the eyes of the physician and the sanitarian, to be used with accurate cal- culation of their nutrient and stimulant prop- erties. (See Ai.coiioi.. PiiYsioi.ociiCAi, and Poi- SONOCS AcTlo.s oi ) {'2)<_'lutlii)iy should be suited to the temperature, age, and occupation. Venti- lation as well as materials — wool, cotton, linen, and silk — must be considered. (3)iro//r and Kxcrcise are necessary for every one. Regular physical activity is essential to proper devel- opment, and to the maintenance of normal action of the vital organs, and the repair of tissue. Even those who are confined to bed by disease need exercise, which is secured by passive motion or massage. (See Gymnas- tics; ExtiRCisE; MAS.SAGE.) To work must bo joined the consideration of rest and sleep, which should be enjoyed at regular intervals, and in quantities proportioned to individual conditions and occupations. (See Sleep.) (4) Personal Cleanliness includes regular evacua- tions of the bowels daily: daily liathing, securing constant removal of perspiration; care of the hair and scalp, and care of the nostrils, of the cavity of the mouth and teeth, of the genitals, and of the anal orifice. (5) Speeial JIabils which tend to undermine health should be con- trolled ; the use of tobacco, of other narcotics, and of stimulants should receive consideration. Tobacco should never be i.sed before the age of lvent}--one or twenty-two years has been reached, and should rarely be used by neurasthenics. In certain diseases, as Bright's disease and syphilis, and certain conditions of the heart, tobacco is pernicious. All other narcotics are distinct!}' deleterious, and should be forbidden. (G) Con- trol of Sexual and Other Passions has much to do with personal health. Indulgence in mastur- bation by the young delays development, and in a vast majority of cases causes mental enfecblc- ment. Excessive sexual intercourse has a similar eflfect, with greater disaster to the male. Per- haps the most undermining of normal mental activities are anger and grief, and these should be avoided or limited. The thoughts should be calm, and mental exercise, as well as physical, should be regularly taken. Mental indolence leads more often to mental disorder than docs mental overwork. HYGIENE. DoME.STic Hygie.ne. This includes the study of (1) The Manayement of Infancy, (2) Prepara- tion of Food, with regulation of meals, as well as supervision of cooking, and ('A) the Hygiene of the SicU-lioom, including removal of dust-catch- ing furnishings, regulation of heat, light, and ventilation, provision of utensils which may be sterilized, care of bedding and brdlinen, and ar- rangements for i)riq)er bathing and nursing. J!e- sides these subdivisions, others might be made which wotild duplicate some of the titles more properly assigned to personal or public hygiene; such as air, and hygiene of the school. PunLic Hygiene. This comprises care of the surroimdings of man, as well as prevention of disease, and disposal of the dead; and therefore includes a consideration of: (1) Climate, as one of the agencies active in man's environment, is used as an elastic term to embrace the range of temperature of a locality, the ])revailing winds, the minfall, the vcgctjition. and the soil. (2) the iS'oiV under liirclliinis. with reference to pos- sibilities of drainage-proximity to underground water, etc. (3) The Character of Direllings, especially tenements, as to ventilation, and air- space, position, and materials used in construc- tion, and provision for reguhtting temperature, watersujiply and drainage. (4) Cleansing of Otccllinris and Dis/iosal of Pefuse. (5) Cleans ing of Streets in towns. One of the most impor- tant questions of jmblic hygiene is the cleaning of streets, and matters connected therewith. Filthy streets are productive of disease not only by the generation of poisonous gases, but also the dust which results from the long-continued trituration of excrement it ious and decaying sub- stances IS extremely injurious to the mucous membrane of the air-passages, and productive of contamination to blood and tissue. The habit of casting the sweepings of houses and stores upon the sidewalks, especially during the hours in which pedestrians are passing, is a greater evil than many suppose. The dust of the.se places is often of the most objectionable character, con- taining the germs of contagion, and there is no doul)t that many 'filth disea.ses' (q.v. ) are propa- gated in this manner. (G) Regulation of Public Conveyances. Public conveyances are frequent causes of disease from various sources. The dust which is allowed to collect in street cars, and also ordinary steam railway cars, is of itself a frequent cause of diseases of the air-passages; but compared to the evils which result from overcrowding and bad ventilation, it is of minor importance. Pneumonia, pleurisy, bronchitis, and laryngitis are frequent results of streetcar exposure. But one of their greatest evils, and one not yet sufficiently recognized by the public, although well known to tlie medical profession, is the want of attention paid to the smoothness of the track and the springs of the cars. On street cars undue jarring should not be per- mitted. Mien they are properly supplied with springs, and when wheels that are flattened are promptly replaced, all injurious vibrations will be avoided. (7) Control of .Air-spaces in Public liuildings. such as hospitals. ,a.syhims. orphan- ages, lecture-rooms, theatres, school houses, etc. The vitiation of air due to impurities added to it by respiration is a subject of great moment. Fol- lowing are figures showing the difTerence in the proportion of the constituents of the percentages of expired air and of ordinary air: